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John Kauffmann and a letter he wrote to a friend
He was 6ft. 3ins. tall, very dignified and quiet, and seriously preoccupied with his thoughts. I knew him for thirty years, saw him almost every week, yet never knew him to smile. He was one of the best-dressed men in Melbourne; one would always note his 'Red Indian' profile as he strolled 'The Block' complete with yellow gloves, cane, spats and his pince-nez on a silk cord.
Photographer Jack Cato aspired to being a writer and that ambition accounts for his vivid portrait of the elderly John Kauffmann included in Cato’s 1955 history The Story of the Camera in Australia. It is quite precious to have such a personal recollection in historical texts.
Cato set up his studio in Melbourne in 1927. Kauffmann had studios in Collins street from 1913 and was at 239 when Cato was at 259 in the 1930s. So they certainly crossed paths. Kauffmann had published the first monograph by an Australian art photographer in 1919. This favoured his art photographs more than his architectural and commercial assignments.
He had solo exhibitions in March 1935 at Newman Galleries 289 Collins Street where his photography was mentioned by critic Harold Herbert and Norman Lilley. There's also a report of a 1938 exhibition at Kodak House in Collins Street Melbourne.
He had quite a few commissions in these years for architecture studies both corporate and domestic with other city and landscape images appearing in Table Talk in the mid 1920s. He had a commission to photograph Newman College Melbourne University. |
Portrait of John Kauffmann, 1939
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne |
A collection of prints are held in the College archives and have featured in several exhibitions and publications. Kauffmann took pupils throughout his career and the last John Bilney in 1941, commented that Kauffman was bitter about no longer being valued by the photographic world. John Kauffmann died 29 November 1942 at his home St Aubin’s 94 Park Street, South Yarra.
He left little in the way of personal writings; so a 1939 letter to a friend or relative Miss Bette Bysouth holidaying at Ditcheley Park Hotel, Beech Forest, gives a glimpse of the man as a warm and affectionate. The letter also reveals that business was on the wane even before declaration of war in September.
Kauffmann writes that ‘Business is pretty dull, & I have been an optimist such a long time, as you know.’ It is clear from the letter that few people came calling to see him at the studio.
Kauffmann was quite busy and included in The Home and Table Talk annuals as well as other magazines. Table Talk Annual October 1 1937 pp48-49 had illustrations of Newman College (designed by Walter Burley Griffin) photographed by Kauffman.
He was not forgotten by his contemporaries. His architectural work is less visible today as these subjects are not so well represented in public collections.
John Kauffmann in the news:
The Australiasian March 16 1935, Harold Herbert newspaper piece on Kauffmann's flower studies.
(sourced the National Library of Australia)
Photographs
An intense love of flowers for themselves alone must be in the make-up of Mr. J. Kauffmann, who is showing his prints at Newman's Gallery, 289 Collins street. This delightful exhibition of the art of the camera—and the printer—will close on March 16. We all admire the wax like quality of flower petals, as in snow drops, and, better still, in magnolias.] Here it is for us magnificently photographed and conveying the fragile nature of the petals that will turn brown if one touches them. These flower studies are among the best of Mr. Kauffmann's exhibits, but in addition there Eire some wonderful snapshots of trees and long grasses in wind. He knows the value of dramatic light effects, and he has made a successful study of the supreme effect of simplicity. Painters, please note! ]
As far as painters go, Miss A. M. E. Bale and Mr. Arthur Streeton are two most distinguished exponents of the exquisitely, restrained composition that makes a flower piece worth while. We are tired of flambuoyance and slightly sick of "cottage bunches."
Mr. Kauffmann rises triumphant with a study of a couple of poppy seeds. Not content with his achievements in still life subjects, he has attacked difficult photography in the nature of beams of light. Altogether it is a show of prints that has been a labour of love, plus experience, plus taste. The man knows what he is doing. It is a lovely show.
The Augus Tuesday March 5, 1935,
Norman Lilley newspaper piece om Kauffmann's photographs Newman Gallery's Collins Street
(sourced National Library of Australia)
Photography By Norman Lilley
The poet of nature is found in a number of the photographs by Mr J Kauffmann assembled in an exhibition at Newman's Galleries Collins street. The beauty of trees from saplings to Veterans is shown in many fine exhibits which give varing effects of light. Peaceful Pastimes with one tree and a cluster of sheep is happily composed and there are similarly pleasing associations of trees with other objects now as are presented in variety in one instance with the added decoration of a poised butterfly.
One of the finest exhibits is The Temple Steps (Kundi ) with the many figures of a ceremony. Buildings and parts of streets are depicted skilfully and there are such other subjects as 'Jazz' a quaint water pattern. 'Sunshine Though Smoke', 'The Shadow on the Wall' and 'A Yarra Vista' The exhibition will be open from to day at 12 o'clock to Saturday March 16
The Augus, Friday October 28, 1938
Kauffmann's photographs at Kodak House, Melbourne
(sourced the National Library of Australia)
Fine Photography
At Kodak House, Collins street, an exhibition of photographs by Mr. John Kauffmann will be opened to-day. Mr. Kauffmann is one of the pioneers of the more modern style and process of photography, and specialises in the uncommon type of subject matter.
Close-up and beautifully arranged flowers and grasses are some of his finest pictures. He is a wizard as far as selection is concerned. A shiny leaf of the acanthus, or a puff-ball, are all "fishes" to his net. Then the great glory of the eucalypt, as in "On the Great Divide," is a splendid study of windblown gums. This study is truly fine. Jamieson (V.), with its pine trees, has provided other good matter for his discerning view-finder—directed, of course. Altogether it is a "display deluxe" of the art of the camera man.
| Samples of newspaper articles mentioning the photography of John Kauffmann: |
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John Kauffmann, Table Talk Christmas Annual: November 1, 1928
Viewed from unfamiliar angles, these photographs show, in the top row, the Anglican Cathedral at Adelaide, on the left; and St. James's Church, Melbourne, in circle. The bottom row reveals St. John's, Toorak; and on the right, Scots Church, Collins street, Melbourne.
(sourced the National Library of Australia)
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The Stragglers by J Kauffmann, Table Talk
(Sourced the National Library of Australia)
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Toilers of the Uplands, John Kauffmann, The Weekly Times December 24, 1927
(Sourced the National Library of Australia) |
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Proud of his Pet, John Kauffmann, The Weekly Times December 24, 1927
(Sourced the National Library of Australia) |
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Melbourne University furnishes some picturesque contrasts between conventional period architecture and more modern treatment. Photos by J.Kauffmann
Wilson Hall, Melbourne University, is an interesting example of a comparatively modern
building which has followed closely late French and Italian Gothic style. Characteristic are the decorated pointed detail and pinnacles whose use is purely ornamental.
Characteristic pointed doorways of the Medical School which make an interesting comparison with the cloisters of Newman College (right), which has a distinctly "modern" appearance.
(sourced the National Library of Australia) |
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Above photography by John Kauffmann:
A corner of the dining hall, showing detail of decoration. The top picture shows the exterior of Newman College which was designed by Walter Burley Griffin.
Newman College is a bold modern design which forms a striking contrast to the graceful Gothic arches and pinnacles. Nevertheless the ultra modern has borrowed from an older period even than the Gothic, namely Byzantine, which followed the decline of the Roman Empire. The rounded arches and the utilisation of the space beneath the large central dome are features of Byzantine churches of the fifth century. Here they blend harmoniously with modern and original decoration.
(sourced the National Library of Australia) |
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Sample of collections of John Kauffmann photographs:
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John Kauffmann, Collins Street Melbourne, circa 1930s
State Library of Victoria
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John Kauffmann, The flower sellers, bromoil photograph
Art Gallery of South Australia |
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'Sunlight on Church'. A vintage gelatin silver photograph
Item for sale - Michael Treloars, Adelaide |
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Self-portrait, John Kauffmann
and his sister, Caroline Marcus, Melbourne c.1940 |
Transcipt of the 1939 John Kauffmann letter:
Envelope addressed to Miss Bysouth / Ditchely Park Hotel/Beech Forest stamped 10 May 1939
239 Collins Str Melbourne May10th 1939
Bette Dearest.
There’s no doubt about your being ”The bad Girl of the family, [anyways] practically a whole week before I had a line from you. I rang up Ethel – no letter, Friday Kath came in to see me & she, too, had had no news. They were not worrying & seemed quite optimistic that eventually one of us would get a letter.
Now that I have your few lines, I know you arrived safely, & that you are enjoying your holiday plus such nice treatment from your friends. Re your health you say nothing & really I should like to know if you are receiving benefit from the change – this is all important. [?] in delightful surroundings & the beautiful air. I am sure, [? ] ‘better than any tonic the Doctor can give you so see you take big mouthfuls of it when you go out walking.
Its nice to know that your friends are spoiling you to the extent of giving you your breakfast in bed. This is just what you want & spoiling of this kind should do you a world of good; should not be surprised if you put on a bit of weight -- & goodness knows that you can do with it. With you & Paul away I am naturally a bit lonely. I hear the [boy?] is improving in health & occupying his time with photography & painting. Business is pretty dull, & I have been an optimist such a long time, as you know.
Oh Yes! I am forgetting I have some work to do, Ethel’s picture, this should keep me busy for a while. So you see it is Good to be an optimist. I wish she would come & have afternoon tea with me, the “Good little Girl of the Family”, of course , you know Kath went to Tasmania on Saturday? She hopes to fly back if she can get any of her kind relatives to finance the trip.
Funny Mrs. Dunn wants her to stay with her, & Mrs. Claude ( I forget her name) wants to have her also. I advised one week with each of them & I really think this is the best solution of the situation. I was speaking to Dr, Briar on Saturday night, “For Bless your heart”, you should have heard how he spoke about Kath, why, one would have thought she was the backbone of the firm. Apart from that he likes very much indeed & thinks a great deal of her ability – so that’s that.
A visitor, Cecil, but he only stayed a little while, & all I can do now is go over to Nippers[?] & get a little lunch. Two days I had lunch in the studio,& yesterday who do you think kept me company? Mr Nemod?? He was full of apologies re the book I lent him which he had for over a year, so could I[?] reproach him. He is quite a nice type of man as you know so I was very pleasant to see him again.
Well nothing more to say, & I may tell you this is so quite a long letter for me. & I will keep on leaving out words & don’t like it. So its not good for me. I send you much love ,& that health is improving
the sincerest wish as always love John
Click here for the photo-web online version of Kauffmann's 1919 publication.
return to main page for John Kauffmann
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